J
A a - - - ? -
An Anthology Of Verse
By American Negroes
This volume of verse was first completed in 1921 by two
white men. Their intention was to "help white readers
understand the Negro's feelings on certain questions..."
They also hoped that Negro readers would not see their
"honest, unbiased appraisal" as "debilitating
patronage" but as that which it was--"unbiascd appraisal.
'N
Poets included arc not only well-known greats, such as
Phyllis Wheatley, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Weldon
Johnson and Countee Cullen but also lesser known artists,
such as George Moses Horton, Joseph Seamon Cotter
and John Wesley Holloway. Each poet's works are
preceded by brief biographical statements.
- - White and Jackson clearly state in their introduction
that Paul Laurence Dunbar is the leader among black
poets. (Unfortunately work oi> fhis book was completed
prior to the Harlem Renaissance.) They act accordingly
by including thirty-one of his poems. His famous "In the
Morning" is omitted but some, such as "How Lucy
Backslid," do contain the humor and coarse Negro
dialect present in the former.
De times is mighty slirrin' 'mong de
people up ouah way,
Dcy 'sputin' an' dey argyin' an' fussin'
night an' day,
An' all dis monst'ous trouble dat hit meks
r
me tiahed to tell
I~ I * ' ' '
i* uvjui u<ti Luvy jacusun uai was sicn a
mighty belle.
James Weldon Johnson, another leader among black
poets, (though not acknowledged by White and Jackson)
also writes some of his works in dialect. In 44Answer to
Prayer" he asks 44de Lawd" for a turkey.
Der ain't no use in sayin' de Lawd
^0^ won't answer prah;
If you know how to ax_Him, 1 knows
He's bound to heah.
De trouble is some people don't as de
proper way,
Den w'en dey git's no answer dey
doubts de use to pray.
Not all the poems are in Negro dialect. Most are in standard
English. They represent a broad cross-section of
Negro thought and verse.
The authors of this volume, not only include an index
u... ~i-~ - ...
v/( ntanu [;uci.>, uui cti^u a sccuon 01 oiouograpmcai
r and critical notes.
t ? Probably, the most valuable isjhe
* latter section. It gives very informative Critical notes on
the volumes used in its preparation with the exception of
those by Paul Laurence Dunbar which are easily accessible
at any library.
If, for no other reason, this book is valuable because it
presents another opportunity for the public to read more
literature by talented black poets. Although the authors'
personal opinions are questionable (and excusable since
the material was collected in 1921), this book offers an
abundance of pleasure reading.
Shirley Verrett
Shirley Verrett
To Give Recital
f. ou:_i \t .. ' '? - ' -' '
aupranu aniney vcrrcu, wno nas won international acclaim
for her operatic role as Lady Macbeth, will give a
recital at 8:15 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 22) in Wait Chapel at
Wake Forest University. .
The recital is part of the university'* 1980-81 Artists
Scries. Admission is by season ticket or by ticket purchased
at the door.
The first of Miss Verrett's many performances in the
Verdi operat "Macbeth" was in 1975 with the La Scala
Opera Company of Milan. She also is well-known for her
leading roles in the Metropolitan Opera productions of
"The Trojans" by Berlioz, "Norma" by Bellini and
"The Siege of Corinth" by Rossini. She performs frequently
as a soloist with major symphony groups in the
United States, including the New York Philharmonic,
and has sung with numerous opera companies
throughout this country and Europe.
Verrctt will sing Heder (songs) by Beethoven, Schubert,
Chausson, Debussy, Samuel Barber, and David Diamond.
>
4
- -"With Ossie <
W/itK r?..u..
^?a?
13-part series of 30-minuie
programs
reflecting America's
multicultural heritage, will M
premiere nationally Saiurday,
February 14, at 7:30
p.m. ET on
listings fdr area broadA
varied anthology - of
comedy, music, drama and M
"With Ossie &
Ruby," hosted by famed M
entertainers Ossie Davis
and Ruby Dee, is produced
for PBS by KERA-TV,
Dallas/Fort Worth. Major I
funding is from Alcoa
Foundation, with addi- I
tional funding provided by
the Corporation for Public I
Broadcasting and public I
television stations.
Each week, "With Ossie
& Ruby" will electronically I
update the ancient art of I
storytelling. Davis, Dee and
their special guests will br
ing fresh interpretations, B
through music and the
spoken word, to the time- Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee an
tested techniques of the
campfire yarnspinner, the programs, premiering Saiurdi
wandering minstrel, the
balladeer and blues singer, by KERA, Dallas/Fort Wort!
the turks of Tin Pan Alley 0f life reflecting America's rr.
and the kings of the Cotton Kawunte Bruth wane.
Club, the vaudevillians and
the evangelists. Many of the present some very talented
programs will present actors, musicians and ,
dramatizations based on the writers to achieve the \
works of some of America's - spellbinding charm of the \
most gifted, though often storyteller. We're going to |
forgotten or neglected, entertain our viewers by ig- j
poets, novelists and niting their imaginations." ,
playwrights. "In other words/^ adds j
Guest stars featured on Ms. Dee, "we're going to ,
various programs include share with our audience the
the prima donna of jazz, poems, stories and music
Delia Reese; father-and-son that have meant the most to
actors Robert and Kevin us. The show's about the
Hooks; jazz masters-- fun, adventure and struggle
pianist Billy Taylor and of life. It's a show about
JtrumfBgr'MtgWPach; ac- spirit, soul and heart.'?
tor/playwright Samm-Art "With Ossie & Ruby"
Williams, author of the, also features profiles and
Broadway hit "Home"; vignettes of some very
legendary humorist John special people who daily
Henry Faulk; and comedian demonstrate their commitCleavon
Little. ment to helping others. One
Also featured on the program, for example, proseries
are outspoken polity files Mother Hale, a
cian and former UN Am- Harlem woman who has
bassador Andrew Young, devoted her life to rearing
poet and educator Sterling orphans bom addicted to ,
Brown, actress Miriam Col- drugs. Another show ,
on and her Puerto Rican spotlights the Puerto Rican (
Traveling Theatre, jour- Traveling Theatre, a
nalist Felipe Luciano, film dynamic, group of young
critic Donald Bogel, thespians that has become 1
novelist Toni Cade Bam- one of the most respected !
bara, actress Butterfly Mc- repertory troupes in New j
Queen and many others. York.
"'With Ossie & Ruby' "Each program features 1
reaches backward to the a different format depentradition
of the ding on the subject beina
storyteller," explains presented," explains
Davis, "to reaffirm positive producer-director David '
human values. The series is Dowe. "We're trying to j
a joyous celebration of life, push television into an ex- *
a tribute to the melting pot ploration of its fullest *
that molded the American potential. Everyone involv- ,
character. We're going to ed with the series has a ,
To Be Equal From Page 4 t
?iiiiwiihwwwwwwwwwwww?wwww?wwwtmrnm?m?HnnummttmtMMiwiim
restrict the executive branch's duty to enforce the Constitution
by vetoing the bill. But the anti-busing crowd
has promised to come back with it in the new Congress,
hopeful the new President will sign it.
Mr. Reagan can disabuse them of that not ton. Even if
he's not a fan of busing, and even if he doesn't understand
the need for busing in some eases, he should understand
the threat to the powers of the presidency posed bv
such a restriction on a federal Department to enforce
laws and constitutional rights it is sworn to uphold.
Another endangered piece of civil tights legislation is
the Voting Rights Act. Senator Thurmond, the fortnet
Dixiecral, wants to kill it cither directly or bv making n
applicable to all 50 slates instgad of those that hase a pto\en
history ol' restricting the right to vote.
Making the Act apply to all the states would el lectin els
doom it. Even if such a move passed the C'ongiess u
would mean a statute almost impossible to enforce, It's a
hack-door way to steal the sole away from mans blacks.
Other issues too, are on the hori/on. I he new President
ssill have to decide earls on whether he will aid,-and
abet vicious attempts to deprive black people o| then i
constitutional rights in issues of kes importance, ot
whether he ssill fulfill his promise to be picsidcm ol all ol
the people.
The President swears to uphold the lasss o; ihe land, ol
which none are higher than the Consiuutio* at pioiects
our liglits. I hope he will be Hue 10 oath and
deinonsirate his support lot wisiI tights
I
I
&~Ruby'
|L tENL *f' - I "?'
% yw ', ' ? * . 7
? JHMiiir^ j**'
K^ II J
KL^k ^P * ^HjBl ,
.?
|^p
r*
ji
1 I
!
m
e hosts of WITH OSSIE &
nment series of 13 half-hour
jy, Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. on
is tings). Produced for PBS
\, the series is a celebration
\ulti-cultural heritage, ph,,,,,.tremendous
excitement and
enthusiasm because we all
recognize nothing quite like
it has ever been done
before. Sure, we've broken
a few rules and taken a few
:hances, but we want to
give our viewers something
new and refreshing. 1 think
television has become too
predictable. 4With Ossie &
Ruby' is full of surprises."
A major emphasis of the
series is to , introduce
American .. television aiidiences
to litlleJcnown
minority and ethnic writers,
performers and artists:
however, stresses Davis, the
series is not only about being
black or brown or
white, but it also explores
the common landscape
shared by all Americans.
"Black? You bet," says
Davis, whose show business
career has included dozens
of stage, film and television
productions, including the
much-praised Broadway
play "Purlie Victorious,"
which he wrote and starred
n. "And brown and white.
VIinority, you ask7 Who
sn't a minority in this
:ountry? All of us, no mater
where we come from or
what color we are, have a
?tory to tell, and, when you
jet right down to it, all our
;tories are pretty much the
;ame. Our aim is to make
:lear the connections shared
?y all people. That's what
With Ossie & Ruby' is all
ibout."
"With Ossie & Ruby"
was conceived and written
?y Ossie Davis and Ruby
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T
The Chronicle, Saturday, January 17, 1981-Page 13
ision |^ sTiR^RAZYFnA,^^Y__^
Dee. Executive producer is W-f V^lioJ1111/ I
Bob Ray Sanders, IJ ARISTOCATS POPEYE
producer-director is David El D^.( 3579
Dowe, associate producers 11 - IM DaH pr
are Erica Rogalla and Nora KM 2-4-6-8 ft- fl
Davis and associate director
is Curtis Baker.
"^htfc ]
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